KR102388013B1 - Capacitive sensing of active electromagnetic radiation cancellation - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of operating a plurality of electrodes and an associated processing system and input device are disclosed. The method includes driving the plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal within a first period of time. A first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing area within the first area, and a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first boundary area within the first area. The method further includes driving the plurality of relaxation electrodes with a second, opposite polarity signal to mitigate electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. The plurality of relaxation electrodes define a second region adjacent the first boundary region. The method further includes, in response to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes, obtaining first capacitive measurements with the first portion.

Description

Capacitive sensing of active electromagnetic radiation cancellation

BACKGROUND Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to techniques for actively reducing electromagnetic emissions from input devices using a plurality of sensor electrodes.

BACKGROUND Input devices including proximity sensor devices (commonly referred to as touchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in various electronic systems. Proximity sensor devices typically include a sensing area, often indicated by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, position and/or motion of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provide interfaces to an electronic system. For example, proximity sensor devices are often used as input devices to mass computing systems (eg, opaque touchpads embedded in or around notebook or desktop computers). Proximity sensor devices are also often used in small computer systems (eg, touch screens integrated into cell phones).

One embodiment described herein is an input device comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first area, a first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defining a sensing area within the first area, the plurality of sensor electrodes defining a sensing area within the first area The second portion of α defines a boundary region within the first region. The input device further includes a plurality of relaxation electrodes defining a second region adjacent the boundary region. The input device drives the plurality of relaxation electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal, while driving the plurality of sensor electrodes with the first signal, thereby reducing electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. and a processing system configured to mitigate. The processing system is also configured to, in response to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes with the first signal, obtain a capacitive measurement with the first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes.

Another embodiment described herein is a processing system comprising a sensor circuit for actuating a plurality of electrodes configured to drive a plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes within a first period of time with a first signal, the plurality of sensor electrodes comprising: define a first area, wherein a first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a sensing area within the first area and a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a boundary area within the first area. The sensor circuit is also configured to drive the plurality of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal while driving the plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period, the plurality of relaxation electrodes being in the boundary region. An adjacent second region is defined to mitigate electromagnetic radiation caused by driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. The sensor circuit is also configured to obtain a first capacitive measurement with the first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes within the first period of time and in response to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes.

Another embodiment described herein is a method of operating a plurality of electrodes. The method includes driving a plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes within a first period of time with a first signal, the plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first area, wherein the first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes comprises a first A sensing area within the first area is defined, and the second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a boundary area within the first area. The method further comprises driving the plurality of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal while driving the plurality of sensor electrodes within a first period of time, wherein the plurality of relaxation electrodes are in a boundary region Define a second region adjacent to to mitigate electromagnetic radiation caused by driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. The method further includes, in response to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes, obtaining first capacitive measurements with a first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes.

In order that the above-mentioned features of the present disclosure may be understood in detail, a more specific description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be made with reference to embodiments, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, however, illustrate only exemplary embodiments and, therefore, are not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention, as the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
1 is a schematic block diagram of an input device according to embodiments described herein;
2 and 3 show a portion of an example sensor electrode implementation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
4 shows an exemplary processing system for active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
5 illustrates a method of performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
6 shows a method of determining parameters for performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein;
7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary arrangement of sensor electrodes for performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary arrangement of sensor electrodes for performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
9 is a diagram illustrating an example scan sequence while performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.
10 is a diagram illustrating example arrangements having a relief region at least partially surrounding a sensing region, in accordance with embodiments described herein.

To facilitate understanding, like reference numbers have been used, where possible, to designate like elements that are common to the drawings. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially used in other embodiments without specific recitation. The drawings referred to herein are not to be construed as drawn to scale unless otherwise noted. In addition, the drawings are often simplified and details or components are omitted for clarity of presentation and description. The drawings and discussion serve to explain the principles discussed below, wherein like designations refer to like elements.

The detailed description below is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure or its applications and uses. Additionally, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding background, summary or the following detailed description.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide input devices and methods for improving usability. The input device may include electrodes that act as sensor electrodes that detect an interaction between the input device and an input object (eg, a stylus or a user's finger). The input device generally drives the sensing signal onto the sensor electrode to obtain capacitive measurements corresponding to the sensing area. To improve the sensing performance of the input device, for example to measure a larger portion of the sensing area, to protect the measured sensor electrodes from the effects of moisture, to reduce the background capacitance provided by the protected sensor electrode It may be advantageous to simultaneously drive the sensing signals to a large number of sensor electrodes, for example, for example.

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cial des Perturbations Radio) 25 를 포함한다.However, driving the sensing signal into large portions of the sensing area can generate unacceptably large electromagnetic (EM) radiation. In some cases, prescribed standards may regulate acceptable levels of EM radiation for a particular type of equipment and a particular market. Some non-limiting examples of regulation on the automotive market are the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Rule 10, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1113 series, and the CISPR (Comit)

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cial des Perturbations Radio) 25.

According to various embodiments described herein, an input device is processing configured to drive a plurality of relaxation electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal while driving a first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal. includes the system. The plurality of relaxation electrodes may include a dedicated relaxation electrode not included in the capacitive measurements or may include a second plurality of sensor electrodes. Actuating the plurality of mitigating electrodes generally provides desired mitigation of electromagnetic radiation caused by driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes. In some embodiments, the first plurality of sensor electrodes define a first substantially adjacent region, and the plurality of relaxation electrodes define a second region adjacent a boundary region defined within the first region. The processing system obtains capacitive measurements for the sensing region using the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and using a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes corresponding to the boundary region, the second (opposite) polarity) to protect the first portion from the effects of driving the plurality of relaxation electrodes with the signal. Some potential advantages to the processing system include reduced EM emission (eg, within prescribed standards) without a corresponding decrease in sensing performance (eg, reduced signal-to-noise ratio).

Example input device implementations

1 is a schematic block diagram of an input device 100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. In various embodiments, input device 100 includes a display device integrated with a sensing device. The input device 100 may be configured to provide an input to the electronic system 150 . As used herein, the term “electronic system” (or “electronic device”) broadly refers to any system capable of processing information electronically. Some non-limiting examples of electronic systems include desktop computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets, web browsers, e-book readers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) of all sizes and shapes. Includes personal computers. Additional example electronic systems include composite input devices, such as input device 100 and physical keyboards that include separate joysticks or key switches. Additional exemplary electronic systems include peripherals such as data input devices (including remote controls and mice), and data output devices (including display screens and printers). Other examples include remote terminals, kiosks, and video game machines (eg, video game consoles, portable gaming devices, etc.). Other examples are communication devices (including cellular phones, such as smart phones), and (recorders, editors, and players, such as televisions, set-top boxes, music players, digital photo frames, and digital cameras). including) media devices. Additionally, the electronic system may be a host or a slave to an input device.

The input device 100 may be implemented as a physical part of an electronic system, or may be physically separate from the electronic system. Appropriately, input device 100 may communicate with portions of an electronic system using any one or more of the following: buses, networks, and other wired or wireless interconnections. Example communication protocols are Inter-Integrated Circuit (I ² C), serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Personal System/2 (PS/2), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Bluetooth®, Radio Frequency (RF), and IrDA (Infrared Data Association) includes communication protocols.

In FIG. 1 , an input device 100 is a proximity sensor device (also sometimes referred to as a “touch pad” or “touch sensor device”) configured to sense input provided by one or more input objects 140 in a sensing area 170 . ) is shown as 1 , example input objects include a finger and a stylus.

Sensing area 170 is above, around, inside input device 100 through which input device 100 can detect user input (eg, user input provided by one or more input objects 140 ). , and/or any space nearby. In some embodiments, the sensing area 170 extends spatially in one or more directions from the surface of the input device 100 until a signal-to-noise ratio prevents sufficiently accurate object detection. The distance this sensing area 170 extends in a particular direction may, in various embodiments, be on the order of less than a millimeter, several millimeters, several centimeters, or greater, and may vary significantly depending on the type of sensing technology used and/or the desired accuracy. It may vary. Thus, in some embodiments, sensing input includes no contact with any surfaces of input device 100 , contact with an input surface (eg, a touch surface) of input device 100 , Some applied force or amount of pressure may include contact with the input surface of the coupled input device 100 , and/or combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the input surfaces may be provided by the surfaces of the casings on which the sensor electrodes reside, such as by a face sheet or any casings applied over the sensor electrodes. In some embodiments, the sensing area 170 has a rectangular shape that protrudes onto the input surface of the input device 100 .

Input device 100 may utilize any combination of sensor components and sensing techniques to detect user input in sensing area 170 . The input device 100 includes a plurality of sensor electrodes 120 for detecting user input. The input device 100 may include one or more sensor electrodes 120 coupled to form sensor electrodes. As some non-limiting examples, input device 100 may use capacitive, elastic, resistive, inductive, magnetoacoustic, ultrasonic, and/or optical techniques.

Some implementations are configured to provide images spanning one, two, three, or more dimensional spaces. Some implementations are configured to provide protrusions of the input along specific axes or planes.

In some resistive implementations of input device 100 , the flexible and conductive first layer is separated from the conductive second layer by one or more spacer elements. During operation, one or more voltage gradients are created across the layers. Pressing the flexible first layer may deflect it sufficiently to create an electrical contact between the layers, resulting in a voltage output reflecting the contact point(s) between the layers. These voltage outputs may be used to determine position information.

In some inductive implementations of input device 100 , one or more sensor electrodes 120 collect loop current induced by a resonant coil or coil pair. Then, some combination of magnitude, phase, and frequency of the current may be used to determine the position information.

In some capacitive implementations of input device 100 , a voltage or current is applied to create an electric field. Nearby input objects cause changes in the electric field and produce detectable changes in capacitive coupling that may be detected as changes in voltage, current, etc.

Some capacitive implementations use arrays or other regular or irregular patterns of capacitive sensor electrodes 120 to create an electric field. In some capacitive implementations, separate sensor electrodes 120 may be ohmically shorted together to form larger sensor electrodes. Some capacitive implementations use resistive sheets that may be uniformly resistive.

As noted above, some capacitive implementations use “self-capacitance” (or “absolute capacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes 120 and an input object. In one embodiment, the processing system 110 is configured to drive a voltage having a known amplitude on the sensor electrode 120 and measure the amount of charge required to charge the sensor electrode to the drive voltage. In other embodiments, processing system 110 is configured to drive a known current and measure a resulting voltage. In various embodiments, an input object near the sensor electrodes 120 changes the electric field near the sensor electrodes 120 , thereby changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one embodiment, the absolute capacitance sensing method comprises:

by modulating the sensor electrodes 120 with respect to a reference voltage (eg, system ground) using the modulated signal and detecting capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes 120 and input objects 140 . It works.

As also noted above, some capacitive implementations utilize “mutual capacitance” (or “transcapacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in capacitive coupling between sensing electrodes. In various embodiments, an input object 140 near the sense electrodes changes the electric field between the sense electrodes, thereby changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one implementation, a transcapacitive sensing method is performed between one or more transmitter sensing electrodes (also “transmitter electrodes”) and one or more receiver sensing electrodes (also “receiver electrodes”), as further described below. It works by detecting the capacitive coupling of The transmitter sense electrodes may be electrically modulated relative to a reference voltage (eg, system ground) to transmit transmitter signals. The receiver sense electrodes may be held substantially constant relative to the reference voltage to facilitate reception of the resulting signals. The resulting signal may include effect(s) corresponding to one or more transmitter signals and/or one or more sources of environmental interference (eg, other electromagnetic signals). The sensing electrodes may be dedicated transmitter electrodes or receiver electrodes, or may be configured to do both transmit and receive.

In FIG. 1 , a processing system 110 is shown as part of an input device 100 . The processing system 110 is configured to operate hardware of the input device 100 to detect an input in the sensing area 170 . The processing system 110 includes portions or all of one or more integrated circuits (ICs) and/or other circuit components. For example, a processing system for a mutual capacitance sensor device may include transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the transmitter sensor electrodes, and/or receiver circuitry configured to receive signals to the receiver sensor electrodes. In some embodiments, processing system 110 also includes electronically-readable instructions, such as firmware code, software code, and the like. In some embodiments, the components making up the processing system 110 are located together, eg, in the vicinity of the sensor electrode(s) 120 of the input device 100 . In other embodiments, the components of the processing system 110 are physically separated from one or more components proximate to the sensor electrode(s) 120 of the input device 100 and from one or more other components. For example, input device 100 may be a peripheral coupled to a desktop computer, processing system 110 comprising software configured to run on a central processing unit of the desktop computer, and one or more ICs separate from the central processing unit. (usually with associated firmware). As another example, input device 100 may be physically integrated into a mobile device, such as a phone, and processing system 110 may include firmware and circuits that are part of the phone's main processor. In some embodiments, processing system 110 is dedicated to implementing input device 100 . In other embodiments, processing system 110 also performs other functions, such as operating display screens, driving haptic actuators, and the like.

The processing system 110 may be implemented as a set of modules that handle different functions of the processing system 110 . Each module may contain circuitry that is part of the processing system 110 , firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, different combinations of modules may be used. Exemplary modules include hardware operation modules for operating hardware such as sensor electrodes and display screens, data processing modules for processing data such as sensor signals and position information, and reporting modules for reporting information. include Additional exemplary modules include sensor operation modules configured to operate the sensor electrode(s) 120 to detect input, identification modules configured to identify gestures such as mode change gestures, and to change modes of operation. Includes mode change modules. Processing system 110 may also include one or more controllers.

In some embodiments, processing system 110 responds to user input (or lack of user input) in sensing area 170 directly by causing one or more actions. Example actions include graphical user interface (GUI) actions, such as cursor movement, selection, menu navigation, and other functions, as well as changing modes of operation. In some embodiments, processing system 110 is input to some part of an electronic system (eg, to a central processing system of an electronic system separate from processing system 110 if there is a separate central processing system). (or lack of input). In some embodiments, some portion of the electronic system operates in response to user input, eg, to facilitate a full range of actions, including mode change actions and GUI actions, information received from processing system 110 . to process

For example, in some embodiments, processing system 110 operates sensor electrode(s) 120 of input device 100 to indicate input (or lack of input) in sensing area 170 . generate electrical signals. Processing system 110 may perform any suitable amount of processing on the electrical signals in generating information provided to the electronic system. For example, processing system 110 may digitize analog electrical signals obtained from sensor electrodes 120 . As another example, processing system 110 may perform filtering or other signal conditioning. As another example, processing system 110 may subtract or otherwise account for a baseline such that the information reflects a difference between the electrical signals and the baseline. As yet other examples, processing system 110 may determine location information, recognize inputs as commands, recognize handwriting, and the like.

“Location information” as used herein broadly includes absolute position, relative position, velocity, acceleration, and other types of spatial information. Exemplary “zero-dimensional” location information includes proximity/remote or contact/non-contact information. Exemplary “one-dimensional” location information includes locations along an axis. Exemplary “two-dimensional” position information includes motions in a plane. Exemplary “three-dimensional” positional information includes instantaneous or average velocities in space. Further examples include other representations of spatial information. Historical data relating to one or more types of location information may also be determined and/or stored, including, for example, historical data that tracks location, motion, or instantaneous speed over time.

In some embodiments, input device 100 is implemented with additional input components that are operated by processing system 110 or by some other processing system. These additional input components may include redundant functionality for input in sensing area 170 , or some other functionality. 1 illustrates buttons 130 proximate sensing area 170 that may be used to facilitate selection of items using input device 100 . Other types of additional input components include sliders, balls, wheels, switches, and the like. In contrast, in some embodiments, input device 100 may be implemented without other input components.

In some embodiments, input device 100 includes a touch screen interface, and sensing area 170 overlaps at least a portion of an active area of a display screen of display device 160 . For example, input device 100 may include substantially transparent sensor electrodes 120 overlying a display screen and provide a touch screen interface to an associated electronic system. The display screen may be any type of dynamic display capable of displaying a visual interface to the user, including light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs (OLEDs), cathode ray tubes (CRTs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasmas, electrolumines. Sense (EL), or any type of other display technology. Input device 100 and display device 160 may share physical elements. For example, some embodiments may utilize some of the same electrical components for display and sensing. As another example, display device 160 may be operated in part or in whole by processing system 110 .

Although many embodiments of the subject technology have been described in the context of a fully functional device, it should be understood that the mechanisms of the subject technology may be distributed as a program product (eg, software) in various forms. For example, the mechanisms of the present technology may be implemented in information bearing media readable by electronic processors (eg, non-transitory computer readable and/or writable/writable information bearing media readable by processing system 110 ). It may be implemented and distributed as a software program on various devices.In addition, embodiments of the present technology apply equally regardless of the particular type of medium used to perform the distribution. Examples include various disks, memory sticks, memory cards, memory modules, etc. Electronically readable media may be based on flash, optical, magnetic, hologram or any other storage technology.

Example sensor electrode implementation

2 and 3 show portions of example sensor electrode arrangements in accordance with embodiments described herein. In particular, arrangement 200 ( FIG. 2 ) shows a portion of a pattern of sensor electrodes configured to sense in a sensing area 170 associated with the pattern, in accordance with some embodiments. For clarity of illustration and description, FIG. 2 depicts the sensor electrodes in a simple pattern of rectangles and does not show the various associated components. This pattern of sensing electrodes includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 (eg, 205-1, 205-2, 205-3, 205-4) and a second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 (eg, 215-1, 215-2, 215-3, 215-4). The sensor electrodes 205 , 215 are examples of each of the sensor electrodes 120 described above. In one embodiment, the processing system 110 operates a first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 as a plurality of transmitter electrodes and a second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 as a plurality of receiver electrodes. In another embodiment, the processing system 110 operates the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 as absolute capacitive sensing electrodes.

The first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 are typically ohmically insulated from each other. That is, one or more insulators separate the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 and prevent them from being electrically shorted to each other. In some embodiments, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 may be disposed on a common layer. The plurality of sensor electrodes 205 , 215 may be electrically separated by an insulating material disposed therebetween in an intersecting region; In such a structure, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and/or the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 may be formed with jumpers connecting different portions of the same electrode. In some embodiments, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 are separated by one or more layers of insulating material. In some embodiments, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 are separated by one or more substrates; For example, they may be disposed on opposite sides of the same substrate or on different substrates stacked together.

The plurality of sensor electrodes 205 , 215 may be formed in any desired shapes. Further, the size and/or shape of the sensor electrodes 205 may be different from the size and/or shape of the sensor electrodes 215 . Further, the sensor electrodes 205 , 215 located on the same side of the substrate may have different shapes and/or sizes. In one embodiment, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 may be larger (eg, have a larger surface area) than the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 , although this is not a requirement. In other embodiments, the first and second plurality of sensor electrodes 205 , 215 may have a similar size and/or shape.

In one embodiment, the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 extend substantially in the first direction, and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 extend substantially in the second direction. For example, and as shown in FIG. 2 , the first plurality of sensor electrodes 205 extend in one direction, and the second plurality of sensor electrodes 215 extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sensor electrode 205 . is extended to Other orientations (eg, parallel or other relative orientations) are also possible.

In some embodiments, the first and second plurality of sensor electrodes 205 , 215 are located outside of the plurality of (or of the display stack) layers that together form the display device 180 . One example of a display stack may include layers such as a lens layer, one or more polarizer layers, a color filter layer, one or more display electrode layers, a display material layer, a thin film transistor (TFT) glass layer, and a backlight layer. However, other implementations of the display stack are possible. In other embodiments, one or both of the first and second plurality of sensor electrodes 205 , 215 are positioned within the display stack, whether included as part of a display related layer or a separation layer. For example, a Vcom electrode within a particular display electrode layer may be configured to perform both display updating and capacitive sensing.

The arrangement 300 of FIG. 3 shows a portion of a pattern of sensor electrodes configured to sense in the sensing area 170 , in accordance with some embodiments. For clarity of illustration and description, FIG. 3 shows the sensor electrodes in a simple pattern of rectangles and does not show other associated components. An example pattern includes an arrangement ( 120 _X,Y ) of sensor electrodes arranged in X columns and Y rows, where X and Y are positive integers, but one of X and Y may be zero. The pattern of sensor electrodes 120 may have other configurations, such as polar arrays, repeating patterns, non-repeating patterns, single row or column, or other suitable implementation. Further, in various embodiments the number of sensor electrodes 120 may vary from row to row and/or column to column. In one embodiment, the sensor electrodes 120 in at least one row and/or column are offset from the other to extend further in at least one direction than the other. The sensor electrodes 120 are coupled to the processing system 110 and are used to determine the presence (or absence thereof) of an input object in the sensing area 170 .

In a first mode of operation, the arrangement of sensor electrodes 120 ( 120 _1,1 , 120 _2,1 , 120 _{3, 1} ,..., 120 _X,Y ) detects the presence of the input object through absolute sensing techniques. It can also be used to detect. That is, the processing system 110 is configured to modulate the sensor electrodes 120 to obtain measurements of changes in capacitive coupling between the modulated sensor electrodes 120 and the input object to determine the position of the input object. do. The processing system 110 is also configured to determine changes in absolute capacitance based on measurements of resultant signals received with the modulated sensor electrodes 120 .

In some embodiments, arrangement 300 includes one or more grid electrodes (not shown) disposed between at least two sensor electrodes 120 . The grid electrode(s) may at least partially surround the plurality of sensor electrodes 120 as a group, and it is also possible, or alternatively, completely or partially surround the one or more sensor electrodes 120 . In one embodiment, the grid electrode is a planar body having a plurality of apertures, each aperture surrounding a respective one of the sensor electrodes 120 . In other embodiments,

The grid electrode(s) comprises a plurality of segments which may be driven individually or in groups or in two or more segments. The grid electrode(s) may be made similar to the sensor electrodes 120 . The grid electrode(s) along with the sensor electrode 120 may be coupled to the processing system 110 using a conductive routing trace and used for input object detection.

The sensor electrodes 120 are typically ohmic insulated from each other and also ohmic insulated from the grid electrode(s). That is, one or more insulators separate the sensor electrodes 120 and the grid electrode(s) and prevent them from being electrically shorted to each other. In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes 120 and the grid electrode(s) are separated by an insulating gap, which may be filled with an electrically insulating material or be an air gap. In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes 120 and grid electrode(s) are vertically separated by one or more layers of insulating material. In some other embodiments, the sensor electrodes 120 and grid electrode(s) are separated by one or more substrates; For example, they may be disposed on opposite sides of the same substrate or on different substrates. In still other embodiments, the grid electrode(s) may be comprised of multiple layers on the same substrate or on different substrates. In one embodiment, the first grid electrode may be formed on a first substrate (or a first side of the substrate) and the second grid electrode may be formed on a second substrate (or a second side of the substrate). For example, the first grid electrode includes one or more common electrodes disposed on a thin film transistor (TFT) layer of the display device 160 ( FIG. 1 ), and the second grid electrode includes a color filter of the display device 160 . placed on the glass. The dimensions of the first and second grid electrodes may be the same or different in at least one dimension.

In the second mode of operation, the sensor electrodes 120 ( 120 _1,1 , 120 _2,1 120 _{3, 1} ,..., 120 _X,Y ) operate when the transmitter signal is driven onto the grid electrode(s). It may also be used to detect the presence of an input object through transcapacitive sensing techniques. That is, the processing system 110 is configured to drive the grid electrode(s) with a transmitter signal and receive resultant signals with each sensor electrode 120, wherein the resulting signal includes effects corresponding to the transmitter signal; , the transmitter signal is used by the processing system 110 or other processor to determine the position of the input object.

In a third mode of operation, the sensor electrodes 120 may be divided into groups of transmitter and receiver electrodes used to detect the presence of an input object via transcapacitive sensing techniques. That is, the processing system 110 may drive the first group of sensor electrodes 120 with a transmitter signal and receive the resulting signals with a second group of sensor electrodes 120 , where The signal includes effects corresponding to the transmitter signal. The resulting signal is utilized by the processing system 110 or other processor to determine the location of the input object.

The input device 100 may be configured to operate in any of the modes described above. The input device 100 may be configured to switch between any two or more of the modes described above.

Regions of local capacitive sensing of capacitive coupling can be named "capacitive pixel", "touch pixel", "ticel", etc. A capacitive pixel is located between the respective sensor electrode 120 and a reference voltage in a first mode of operation, between the sensor electrodes 120 and the grid electrode(s) in a second mode of operation, and between transmitter and receiver electrodes (e.g. For example, it may be formed between groups of sensor electrodes 120 used as arrangement 200 of FIG. 2 . The capacitive coupling changes with the proximity and motion of input objects in the sensing region 170 associated with the sensor electrodes 120 , and thus may be used as an indicator of the presence of the input object in the sensing region of the input device 100 . may be

In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes 120 are “scanned” to determine such capacitive couplings. That is, in one embodiment, one or more of the sensor electrodes 120 are driven to transmit transmitter signals. Transmitters may be operated such that one transmitter electrode transmits at a time, or multiple transmitter electrodes transmit simultaneously. When multiple transmitter electrodes transmit simultaneously, the multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit the same transmitter signal,

This effectively creates a larger transmitter electrode. Alternatively, multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit different transmitter signals. For example, multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit different transmitter signals according to one or more coding schemes that allow their combined effects of the receiver electrodes on the resulting signals to be determined independently. In an embodiment, multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit the same transmitter signal simultaneously, and the receiver electrodes receive the effects and are measured according to a scanning scheme.

The sensor electrodes 120 configured as receiver sensor electrodes may be operated singly or in multiples to obtain the resulting signals. The resulting signals may be used to determine measurements of capacitive couplings in the capacitive pixels. The processing system 110 may be configured to receive the sensor electrode 120 in a scanning and/or multiplexing manner to reduce the number of simultaneous measurements to be made as well as the size of the supporting electrical structures. In one embodiment, the one or more sensor electrodes are coupled to the receiver of the processing system 110 via a switching element, such as a multiplexer or the like. In such an embodiment, the switching element may be internal to the processing system 110 or external to the processing system 110 . In one or more embodiments, the switching elements may also be further configured to couple the sensor electrode 120 with a transmitter or other signal and/or voltage potential. In an embodiment, the switching element may be configured to simultaneously couple more than one receiver electrode to a common receiver.

In other embodiments, “scanning” the sensor electrodes 120 to determine such capacitive couplings includes modulating one or more sensor electrodes and measuring the absolute capacitance of the one or more sensor electrodes. In an embodiment, the sensor electrodes may be operated such that more than one sensor electrode is simultaneously driven and received In such embodiments, an absolute capacitive measurement may be simultaneously obtained from each of the one or more sensor electrodes 120 In one embodiment, each of the sensor electrodes 120 is simultaneously driven and received,

Simultaneously acquire absolute capacitive measurements from each sensor electrode 120 . In various embodiments, the processing system 110 may be configured to selectively modulate a portion of the sensor electrodes. For example, the sensor electrode may be selected based on, but not limited to, an application running on the host processor, a state of the input device, and an operation mode of the sensing device. In various embodiments, processing system 110 selectively shields at least a portion of sensor electrodes 120 and selectively shields or transmits grid electrode(s) 122 to or transmits to grid electrode(s) 122 . It may be configured to selectively receive and/or transmit with other sensor electrodes 120 .

The set of measurements from the capacitive pixels forms a “capacitive image” (also “capacitive frame”) representing capacitive coupling in the pixels. Multiple capacitive images may be acquired over multiple time periods, and the differences between them may be used to derive information about the input in the sensing region. For example, successive capacitive images acquired over successive periods of time may be used to track the motion(s) of one or more input objects entering, leaving, and within the sensing region.

In any of the above embodiments, multiple sensor electrodes 120 may be operated concurrently together such that the sensor electrodes 120 are simultaneously modulated or received simultaneously. Compared to the methods described above, simultaneously actuating multiple sensor electrodes together may produce a coarse capacitive image that cannot be used to identify precise position information. However, a coarse capacitive image may also be used to detect the presence of an input object. In an embodiment, the coarse capacitive image may be used to move the processing system 110 or input device 100 out of a “doze” mode or low power mode. In one embodiment, the coarse capacitive image may be used to move the capacitive sensing IC out of a “dose” mode or low power mode. In another embodiment, the coarse capacitive image may be used to move at least one of the host IC and the display driver out of a “dose” mode or a low power mode. A coarse capacitive image may correspond to the entire sensor area or only a portion of the sensor area.

The background capacitance of the input device 100 is a capacitive image associated with no input objects in the sensing area 170 . Background capacitance depends on the environment and operating conditions and can be estimated in a number of ways. For example, some embodiments take “baseline images” when an input object is not present in the sensing area 170 , and use these baseline images as estimates of their background capacitances. The background capacitance, or baseline capacitance, is caused by stray capacitive coupling between two sensor electrodes, one sensor electrode driven with a modulated signal and the other held fixed relative to system ground, or with the receiver electrode It may be present due to stray capacitive coupling between nearby modulated electrodes. In many embodiments, the background or baseline capacitance may be relatively fixed over a period of time of the user input gesture.

The capacitive images may be adjusted for the background capacitance of the input device 100 for more efficient processing. Some embodiments achieve this by “baselining” measurements of capacitive couplings at the capacitive pixels to produce a “baselined capacitive image”. That is, some embodiments compare measurements forming a capacitance image to appropriate “baseline values” of a “baseline image” associated with these pixels, and determine changes from that baseline image.

In some touch screen embodiments, the one or more sensor electrodes 120 include one or more display electrodes used to update the display of the display screen. The display electrodes may be of an active matrix display, such as one or more segments of a segmented Vcom electrode (common electrode(s)), a source drive line, a gate line, an anode subpixel electrode or a cathode pixel electrode, or any other suitable display element. It may include one or more elements. These display electrodes may be disposed on a suitable display screen substrate. For example, the common electrode is a transparent substrate (glass substrate, TFT glass or any other transparent material), on the bottom of the color filter glass of some display screen (eg, Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA) or Multi-domain Vertical Alignment (MVA)), or an emitting layer (OLED) can also be placed on top. In such embodiments, the display electrode may be referred to as a “combination electrode” because it performs multiple functions. In various embodiments, each sensor electrode 120 includes one or more common electrodes. In other embodiments, the at least two sensor electrodes 120 may share at least one common electrode. Although the following description may describe that the sensor electrode 120 and/or grid electrode(s) include one or more common electrodes, various other display electrodes, as described above, may also be used in conjunction with or relative to the common electrode. It may be used as an alternative. In various embodiments, the sensor electrode 120 and grid electrode(s) comprise an entire common electrode layer (Vcom electrode).

In various touch screen embodiments, the “capacitive frame rate” (the rate at which successive capacitive images are acquired) is the “display frame rate” (including refreshing the screen to redisplay the same image, at which the display image is updated). In various embodiments, the capacitive frame rate is an integer multiple of the display frame rate. In other embodiments, the capacitive frame rate is a fractional multiple of the display frame rate. In embodiments, the capacitive frame rate may be any fractional or integer multiple of the display frame rate In one or more embodiments, the display frame rate (e.g., power (to reduce or provide additional image data such as 3D display information) In another embodiment, the display frame rate may remain constant while the touch frame rate is increased or decreased.

With continued reference to FIG. 3 , the processing system 110 coupled to the sensor electrode 120 includes a sensor module 310 and optionally a display driver module 320 . The sensor module 310 includes circuitry configured to drive at least one of the sensor electrodes 120 for capacitive sensing during periods when input sensing is desired. In one embodiment, the sensor module 310 is configured to drive the modulated signal onto the at least one sensor electrode 120 to detect a change in absolute capacitance between the at least one sensor electrode and the input object. In another embodiment, the sensor module 310 is configured to drive a transmitter signal onto the at least one sensor electrode 120 to detect a change in transcapacitance between the at least one sensor electrode and the other sensor electrode 120 . The modulated signal and the transmitter signal are generally variable voltage signals comprising a plurality of voltage transitions over a time period allotted for input sensing. In various embodiments, the sensor electrodes 120 and/or grid electrode(s) may be actuated differently in different modes of operation. In one embodiment, the sensor electrodes 120 and/or grid electrode(s) may differ in any one of phase, amplitude and/or shape signals (modulated signals, transmitter signals and/or shielding). signals) may be driven. In various embodiments, the modulated signal and the transmitter signal are similar in at least one shape, frequency, amplitude and/or phase. In other embodiments, the modulated signal and the transmitter signal are different in frequency, shape, phase, amplitude, and phase. The sensor module 310 may be selectively coupled to one or more sensor electrodes 120 and/or grid electrode(s). For example, the sensor module 310 may be coupled to a selected portion of the sensor electrode 120 and may operate in an absolute or transcapacitive sensing mode. In another example, the sensor module 310 may be a different portion of the sensor electrode 120 and may operate in an absolute or transcapacitive sensing mode. In another example, the sensor module 310 may be coupled to all sensor electrodes 120 and may operate in absolute or transcapacitive sensing mode.

The sensor module 310 is configured to operate the grid electrode(s) as a shielding electrode that may shield the sensor electrode 120 from the electrical effects of nearby conductors. In one embodiment, the processing system operates the grid electrode(s) as a shielding electrode that may "shield" the sensor electrode 120 from the electrical effects of nearby conductors, and the sensor electrode 120 from the grid electrode(s). to at least partially reduce the parasitic capacitance between the grid electrode(s) and the sensor electrode 120 . In one embodiment, the shielding signal is driven onto the grid electrode(s). The shielding signal may be a ground signal, such as system ground or other ground, or any other constant voltage (ie, unmodulated) signal. In another embodiment, operating the grid electrode(s) as a shielding electrode may include electrically floating the grid electrode. In one embodiment, the grid electrode(s) can act as both a floating electrode and an effective shielding electrode due to the large coupling to other sensor electrodes. In another embodiment, the shielding signal may be referred to as a “guard signal” in which the guard signal is a variable voltage signal having at least one of a phase, frequency, and amplitude similar to the modulating signal driven by the sensor electrode. In one or more embodiments, the routing trace may be shielded from responding to an input object due to routing below the grid electrode(s) and/or sensor electrodes 120 , and thus the active, shown as sensor electrodes 120 . It may not be part of the sensor electrodes.

In one or more embodiments, capacitive sensing (or input sensing) and display updating may occur during an at least partially overlapping period. For example, since the common electrode is driven for display updating, the common electrode may also be driven for capacitive sensing. In another embodiment, capacitive sensing and display updating may occur during non-overlapping periods, also referred to as non-display update periods. In various embodiments, non-display update periods may occur between display line update periods for two display lines of a display frame and may be at least as long as the display update period. In such embodiments, the non-display update period will be referred to as a "long horizontal blanking period", "long h-blanking period" or "distributed blanking period" in which the blanking period occurs between two display updating periods. may be at least as long as the display update period In one embodiment, the non-display update period occurs between display line update periods of a frame and is such that multiple transitions of the transmitter signal can be driven onto the sensor electrodes 120 . Long enough.In other embodiments, the non-display update period may include horizontal blanking periods and vertical blanking periods.The processing system 110 is configured to configure any one or more or any of the different non-display update times. It may be configured to drive the sensor electrode 120 for capacitive sensing during combination A synchronization signal is shared between the sensor module 310 and the display driver module 320 to repeatedly have coherent frequencies and phases. It may also provide precise control of the overlapping display updating and capacitive sensing period.In one embodiment, these synchronization signals provide a relatively stable voltage at the beginning and end of the input sensing period (e.g., of the input integrator reset time). (near the end and near the end of the display charge sharing time) may be configured to allow matching the display update period with a relatively stable voltage.The modulation frequency of the modulated or transmitter signal may be at harmonics of the display line update rate. and the phase is determined to provide a nearly constant charge coupling from the display element to the receiver electrode, allowing this coupling to be part of the baseline image.

The sensor module 310 includes circuitry configured to receive a resultant signal with the sensor electrode 120 and/or grid electrode(s) comprising an effect corresponding to the modulated signal or transmitter signal for a period for which input sensing is desired. do. The sensor module 310 may determine the position of an input object in the sensing area 170 or another module or processor for determining the position of the input object in the sensing area 170 , such as an associated electronic device 150 . A signal including information indicative of a result signal may be provided to a processor or a determination module of (ie, a host processor).

The display driver module 320 may be included in or separate from the processing system 110 . The display driver module 320 includes circuitry configured to provide display image update information to a display of the display device 160 during a non-sensing (eg, display updating) period.

In one embodiment, the processing system 110 includes a first integrated controller that includes a display driver module 320 and at least a portion of a sensor module 310 (ie, a transmitter module and/or a receiver module). In another embodiment, the processing system 110 includes a first integrated controller that includes a display driver module 320 and a second integrated controller that includes a sensor module 310 . In another embodiment, the processing system includes a first integrated controller and sensor module 310 that includes a display driver module 320 and a first portion of the sensor module 310 (eg, one of a transmitter module and a receiver module). ) (eg, the other of a transmitter module and a receiver module) of a second integrated controller. In these embodiments comprising multiple integrated circuits, a synchronization mechanism configured to synchronize a display updating period, a sensing period, a transmitter signal, a display update signal, etc. may be coupled therebetween.

Exemplary Arrangements for Active Reduction of Electromagnetic Radiation

4 shows an exemplary processing system for active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein. More specifically, arrangement 400 provides one possible implementation of processing system 110 described above. Further, arrangement 400 may be used in combination with various embodiments discussed herein, such as arrangements 200 , 300 of sensor electrode described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

Within the arrangement 400 , the sensor module 310 is configured to determine a plurality of sensor electrode sets 405 . The plurality of sensor electrode sets 405 may be predetermined, dynamically determined, and/or dynamically updated. In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes of the first set S1 define a sensing region, the sensor electrodes of the second set S2 define a boundary region, and the sensor electrodes of the third set S3 define a relaxation region to define The sensor electrodes of the first set S1 may be driven with the sensing signal 430, the sensor electrodes of the second set S2 may be driven with the protection signal 435, and the sensors of the third set S3 The electrode may be driven with a relaxation signal 440 . In some alternative embodiments, the sensor electrode of the third set S3 may be replaced with a dedicated relaxation electrode used for EM radiation mitigation and not included in the capacitive measurement obtained by the sensor module 310 . A dedicated relaxation electrode may be included in the same layer as the sensor electrode or in a different layer than the sensor electrode. For example, the dedicated relaxation electrode may be made of the same conductive material(s) as the sensor electrode (eg, substantially transparent material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), transparent conductive oxides (TCOs), carbon nanotube thin films, nanowire mesh, etc.) ) or from different conductive material(s) such as opaque metal traces. In some cases, the dedicated relaxation electrode may be visually obscured, eg, placed under a black mask layer surrounding the visible portion of the display device. In such cases, the one or more sensor electrodes of the second set S2 (ie, of the boundary region) may also be visually obscured. In some alternative embodiments, the sensor electrode of the second set S2 may also be replaced with dedicated relaxation electrodes not included in the capacitive measurements.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 310 updates the first set S1 of the sensor electrode during one or more sensing periods (eg, obtaining capacitive measurements corresponding to the entire sensing frame). configured to perform a scan of the sensor electrode. In a non-limiting example, the first set S1 corresponds to one half of the first sense axis during the first period and the other half of the first sense axis during the second period. Other fractional portions are possible and may include non-overlapping or overlapping portions. The first set S1 corresponds to one half of the second sense axis for the third period and the other half of the second sense axis for the fourth period. In some embodiments, the second sense axis is substantially orthogonal to the first sense axis. In this manner, the sensor module 310 may be configured to sequentially perform capacitive sensing for an entire sense axis relative to one or more sense axes.

The properties of the sense signal 430 , the guard signal 435 , and/or the relaxation signal 440 are caused, at least in part, by driving the sense signal 430 onto the first set of sensor electrodes S1 . It may be selected to effect active reduction of EM radiation. The sense signal 430 may be a time-varying voltage signal (ie, a modulating signal) having a first polarity. The guard signal 435 generally has a similar phase, frequency, and/or amplitude as the sense signal 430 . In some embodiments, the guard signal 435 is substantially the same as the sense signal 430 . Based on the selected characteristics, the guard signal 435 and the sense signal 430 may have substantially the same first polarity. In some embodiments, relaxation signal 440 has a second polarity opposite the first polarity. For example, the relaxation signal 440 may be based on an inverted or phase shifted copy of the sense signal 430 .

The sensor module 310 is configured to determine one or more of a plurality of signal amplitudes 415 for generating the sense signal 430 , the guard signal 435 , and/or the relaxation signal 440 . In some embodiments, the guard signal 435 and the sense signal 430 have the same amplitude M1 . The amplitude M2 of the relaxation signal 440 can be selected to provide a desired relaxation of the EM radiation caused by driving the sense signal 430 and the guard signal 435 , which in some cases is equal to the amplitude M1 . selected based at least in part. Although not explicitly described, in other embodiments a different relaxation signal may be driven onto different sensor electrodes (eg, with different amplitude values) of the second set S2 .

In some embodiments, the amplitude M2 is also the number of sensor electrodes included in the first set S1 , the area defined by the first set S1 , the number of sensor electrodes included in the second set S2 . number, the area defined by the second set S2 , the number of sensor electrodes included in the third set S3 , and the area defined by the third set S3 (or alternatively, a plurality of dedicated relaxations) area defined by the electrode). In an example, the first area comprises a sensing area defined by the first set S1 and a boundary area defined by the second set S2, and the second area is defined by the third set S3 includes a zone of relief. As discussed herein, the first region includes a “substantially adjacent” region in which substantially all of the sensor electrodes contained therein are driven with signal(s) having the same polarity. It may also include non-sensing areas, such as insulating areas between sensor electrodes Substantially all of the sensor electrodes in a substantially adjacent area are driven with the same polarity signal(s), but in some cases the substantially adjacent area is different. one or more other sensor electrodes driven with signals (eg, a direct current signal or an alternating current signal having a different polarity), grounded, electrically floating, etc. In this case, one or more other sensor electrodes should comprise only a relatively small portion of the area, eg, no more than 10% of the area, In some cases, a first substantially adjacent area corresponds to a first area that is greater than a second area that corresponds to a second area.

In order to adequately mitigate EM radiation from driving the sensor electrode within the (larger) substantially adjacent first region, the amplitude M2 may be chosen to be greater than the amplitude M1 .

In some embodiments, the sensor module 310 is configured to determine one or more of the plurality of area values 410 . In some embodiments, the first area A1 corresponds to the sensing area (defined by the first set S1 ), and the second area A2 is (defined by the second set S2 ) Corresponds to the boundary region, and the third area A3 corresponds to the relaxation region (defined by the third set S3). The sensor module 310 may determine a first area (corresponding to a substantially adjacent first area) based on the first area A1 and the second area A2 and/or to the third area A3 The second region may be determined based on the second region. In some cases, the sensor module 310 may configure the first set S1, the second set S2 based on desired values for the first area A1, the second area A2, and/or the third area A3. ) and the sensor electrodes for one or more of the third set S3.

In some embodiments, the sensor module 310 is configured to determine characteristics of the plurality of sensor electrode sets 405 and/or one or more generated signals based on the one or more radiation parameters 420 . For example, the emission parameters 420 may include a wideband emission limit and/or a narrowband emission limit included in prescribed standards. Non-limiting examples of regulations providing prescribed standards for the automotive market include UNECE Regulation 10, SAE J1 13 series and CISPR 25. The radiation parameter 420 may be defined in units of power, such as milliwatts (mW) or decibel-milliwatts (dBm), in units of field strength, such as decibel-microvolts (dBuV), or in any other suitable unit. . The sensor module 310 may further include one or more radiation measurements 425 . In one embodiment, the sensor module 310 is communicatively coupled with an antenna (eg, disposed at a distance from a radiation sensor electrode) and uses an antenna (not shown) to measure radiation measurements 425 . to acquire In another embodiment, the sensor module 310 is communicatively coupled with a test rig and receives radiation measurements 425 from the test rig (not shown). The sensing module 310 is also

and adjust, based on the radiation measurements 425 , characteristics of the one or more generated signals and/or the plurality of sensor electrode sets 405 . For example, if the one or more radiation measurements 425 indicate that the radiation limit(s) included in the one or more radiation parameters 420 are being exceeded, the sensing module 310 is configured to: may be configured: (1) changing the configuration and/or size of the first set S1 and/or the second set S2; (2) changing the configuration and/or size of the third set S3; modifying, (3) decreasing the amplitude M1, and (4) increasing the amplitude M2 of the relaxation signal 440.

5 shows a method 500 of performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein. The method 500 may be performed in combination with other embodiments, such as the processing system of the arrangement 400 of FIG. 4 . More specifically, the method 500 may be performed during operation of the sensor module 310 of the arrangement 400 .

The method 500 begins at block 505 , where the sensor module drives a first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal within a first period of time. The first plurality of sensor electrodes may define a first substantially adjacent region. Within a first substantially adjacent region, a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing region, and a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first boundary region.

At block 515 , the sensor module drives the plurality of relaxation electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes. The plurality of relaxation electrodes define a second region adjacent the first boundary region. In some embodiments, the plurality of relaxation electrodes are dedicated relaxation electrodes that are not included in the obtained capacitive measurements. In other embodiments, the plurality of relaxation electrodes includes a second plurality of sensor electrodes.

At block 525 , the sensor module obtains first capacitive measurements with a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes in response to actuation of the first plurality of sensor electrodes. The first capacitive measurements correspond to the first sensing region. The first capacitive measurements may reflect absolute capacitive measurements and/or mutual capacitive measurements obtained using the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes. In some embodiments, the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes is operated as a protective electrode for the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and the first capacitive measurements are performed on a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes. does not include parts

At block 535 , the sensor module drives a third plurality of sensor electrodes with a third signal within a second time period. The third plurality of sensor electrodes may define a third substantially contiguous region different from the first substantially contiguous region. Within the third substantially adjacent region, a third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second sensing region, and a fourth portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second boundary region.

At block 545 , the sensor module drives the second plurality of relaxation electrodes with a fourth signal having an opposite polarity to the third signal while driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes. The second plurality of relaxation electrodes define a fourth region adjacent the second boundary region. The second plurality of relaxation electrodes may include a dedicated relaxation electrode not included in the obtained capacitive measurements, or may include a fourth plurality of sensor electrodes.

At block 555 , the sensor module obtains second capacitive measurements with the third portion in response to actuation of a third plurality of sensor electrodes. In some embodiments, the first capacitive measurements and the second capacitive measurements may be used to perform a full scan of the plurality of sensor electrodes along one or more sensing axes. The method 500 ends after completion of block 555 .

6 shows a method 600 of determining parameters for performing active reduction of EM radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein.

Method 600 may be performed in combination with other embodiments, such as the processing system of arrangement 400 of FIG. 4 and/or method 500 of FIG. 5 . More specifically, method 600 may be performed as part of a sensor module that initially determines and/or updates a capacitive sensing configuration.

The method 600 begins at block 605 in which a sensor module determines a first amplitude of a first signal to be driven onto a plurality of sensor electrodes defining a substantially contiguous first region. In some embodiments, the first amplitude is a predetermined value.

At block 615 , the sensor module determines a first set of sensor electrodes corresponding to a first portion of a first plurality of sensor electrodes. A first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a sensing area within a substantially contiguous first area. At block 625 , the sensor module determines a second set of sensor electrodes corresponding to a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes. A second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a protective region within the substantially contiguous first region. At block 635 , the sensor module determines a third set of sensor electrodes corresponding to the plurality of relaxation electrodes to be driven with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal. The plurality of relaxation electrodes define a relaxation region adjacent the protection region. In some alternative embodiments, the plurality of relaxation electrodes includes dedicated relaxation electrodes that are not included in the obtained capacitive measurements.

At block 645 , the sensor module determines a second amplitude for the second signal based on the first amplitude of the first signal. The second amplitude is also the number of sensor electrodes included in the first set, the area defined by the first set, the number of sensor electrodes included in the second set, the area defined by the second set, included in the third set based on at least one of the number of sensor electrodes used, and the area defined by the third set. In some alternative embodiments having a dedicated relaxation electrode, the second amplitude may be based on an area defined by the dedicated relaxation electrode. The method 600 ends after completion of block 645 .

Although blocks 805-845 are shown in a particular sequence, the individual blocks may be performed in any other suitable order. Further, blocks 605-645 may be performed during a non-overlapping period, or two or more separate blocks may be performed during an overlapping period.

7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary arrangement 700 of sensor electrodes for performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein. The sensor electrodes shown in arrangement 700 may be operated in combination with other embodiments using, for example, the processing system of arrangement 400 of FIG. 4 and/or method 500 of FIG. 5 .

As shown, the plurality of sensor electrodes shown in arrangement 700 are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of columns (10) rows and a plurality of eleven (11) columns, although other sizes are possible. In arrangement 700, the plurality of sensor electrodes have a diamond shape of the same size, although other sensor electrode shapes and/or sizes are possible. Some non-limiting examples of sensor electrode shapes include rectangular shapes and hexagonal shapes. In addition, although the sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are distinguished from the sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns, this is not an essential condition.

In arrangement 700 , each sensor electrode included in a particular row or particular column is electrically connected so that a desired signal can be driven onto each individual row and each individual column during operation. However, other implementations may include individually driven sensor electrodes or different groups of sensor electrodes.

As shown, the sensor electrode 120 included in rows 1-5 may be driven with a sense signal 430 , and the sensor electrode 120 included in rows 7-10 with a relaxation signal 440 . The sensor electrode 120 included in row 6 may be driven with a protection signal 435 . In some embodiments, the sense signal 430 and the guard signal 435 are the same, but the sensor electrode 120 driven with the guard signal 435 is not included in the capacitive measurements. The sensor electrodes 120 included in columns 1 - 11 may be driven by the protection signal 435 .

A first substantially adjacent region 705 is defined by a first plurality of sensor electrodes 120 driven with a sense signal 430 or a guard signal 435 . As shown, the adjacent first region 705 is a column disposed from the top of row 1 between rows 6 and 7 as well as the sensor electrodes 120 included in rows 1-6. and the sensor electrode 120 of (1-11).

The second region 720 is defined by a second plurality of sensor electrodes 120 driven with a relaxation signal 440 . As shown, the second region 720 includes the sensor electrodes 120 included in rows 7 - 10 . The second region 720 further comprises a sensor electrode 120 driven by a protection signal 435 contained in columns 1-11 arranged from between rows 7 and 8 to below row 10. include

Within the first region 705 , a sensing region 710 is defined by a sensor electrode 120 driven with a sensing signal 430 . As shown, the sensing area 710 extends to include the sensor electrodes 120 in rows 1-5. Further, in the sensing region 710 , the sensor electrode 120 (first part) driven by the sensing signal 430 and the sensor electrode 120 (third part) driven by the protection signal 435 are alternately arranged has been

A boundary region 715 is defined within the adjacent first region 705 and is disposed adjacent to the second region 720 . The sensor electrode 120 disposed within the boundary region 715 may be configured to protect the sensing region 120 from the effect of a relaxation signal 440 driven onto the sensor electrode of the second region 120 . In some embodiments, the size of the boundary region 715 is the relative size of the sense region 710 and/or the second region 720 , and/or the relative size of the sense signal 430 and/or the relaxation signal 440 . It may be determined based on the amplitude.

Stated another way, in some embodiments, during a first period of time, a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes (ie, defining the sensing region 710 ) includes at least a first row of the plurality of rows. do. A second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes (ie, defining boundary region 715 ) includes at least a second row of the plurality of rows. The second plurality of sensor electrodes (ie, defining a second region 720 adjacent the boundary region 715 ) includes at least a third row of the plurality of rows. In some embodiments, during the first period, the sensor electrode included in the plurality of columns is operated as a protective sensor electrode. During a second different time period, the first portion, the second portion and the second plurality of sensor electrodes correspond to different column(s) of the plurality of columns. During the second period, the sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are operated as protective sensor electrodes.

In some embodiments, the amplitude (ie, M2) of the relaxation signal 440 may be determined based on the amplitude (ie, M1) of the sense signal 430 and the relative areas driven at the first amplitude and the second amplitude. there is. For example, the amplitude (M2) can be determined according to the following relation:

where M1 denotes the amplitudes of the sense signal 430 and the guard signal 435, A _M1 denotes the area of the array 700 driven at amplitude M1, and A _M2 denotes the amplitude of the array 700 driven at amplitude M2; 700) represents the area of . For example, as shown in FIG. 7 and assuming that rows 1-10 and columns 1-11 each correspond to each 50% of the sensor area, about 25% of the total sensor area is the sensing signal. 430 (ie, rows 1-5), about 55% of the total sensor area is driven with the guard signal 435 (ie, 50% for columns 1-11 and row 6 ) for 5 %), which adds up to 80% of the area (A _M1 ). The remaining 20% of the total sensor area, corresponding to an area A _M2 of 20%, is driven by the relaxation signal 440 . Thus, according to equation (1), M2 may be chosen to be (80%/20%) or (4 * M1) of M1. Consequently, driving the sensor electrode 120 of the arrangement 700 with amplitudes M1 , M2 results in substantially equal and opposite EM radiation at a specified distance from the plurality of sensor electrodes 120 .

Thus, driving the sensor electrodes of the arrangement 700 in the manner shown obtains a first capacitive measurement comprising rows 1-5 corresponding to half of the first (vertical) sense axis for a first time period. may be suitable for During a second period, a second capacitive measurement may be obtained corresponding to the other half of the first sense axis. In this case, the sensor electrodes 120 in rows 6-10 may be driven with the sense signal 430 , the row 5 may be driven with the guard signal 435 , and rows 1-4 may be It may be driven with a relaxation signal 440 . The sensor electrodes of columns 1 - 11 may be driven continuously with a protection signal 435 . For another period, the capacitive measurement is carried out with respect to a second (horizontal) sense axis, for example a first part of the sensor electrode 120 comprised in columns 1-11 with a sense signal 430 , a guard signal 435 . ) may be obtained by driving the second part with , and the third part with the relaxation signal 440 . The sensor electrode 120 included in rows 1-10 may be driven with a protection signal 435 .

One or more other factors may be considered when determining the amplitude M2. One or more other factors may apply uniformly to the sensor area (or “symmetric”) and/or apply differently for different portions of the sensor area (or “asymmetry”). In some embodiments, relaxation is performed during a first time period by driving a first number of sensor electrodes with a relaxation signal 440 having a first amplitude, and based on one or more other factors, wherein a second number of different Relaxation is performed for a second time period using a sensor electrode and/or a relaxation signal 440 of a second, different amplitude. A non-limiting example of one or more other factors that may affect amplitude M2 is EM radiation from routing electrodes coupled with sensor electrodes 120 . Based on the placement of the routing electrode relative to the sensor area, the factor may be applied asymmetrically. Other non-limiting examples of one or more other factors include RC time constants of sensor electrodes driven with different signals, polarizations of different signals, and the like.

8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary arrangement 800 of sensor electrodes for performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein. The sensor electrodes shown in arrangement 800 may be operated in combination with other embodiments using, for example, the processing system of arrangement 400 of FIG. 4 and/or method 500 of FIG. 5 .

As shown, the plurality of sensor electrodes shown in arrangement 800 are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of six (6) rows and a plurality of eight (8) columns, although other sizes are possible. Each sensor electrode in array 800 is included in a specific row and specific column. Further, each of the sensor electrodes shown in arrangement 800 is at least partially surrounded by a grid electrode, such as grid electrodes 805-1A and 805-1B. As shown, each grid electrode surrounds four sensor electrodes, although other numbers of sensor electrodes are possible. Also, the grid electrodes are arranged in a repeating grid pattern. As shown, grid electrodes 805-1A and 805-1B are arranged in row 1, grid electrode 805-1A is arranged in grid column A, and grid electrode 805-1B is arranged in grid placed in column (B).

In some embodiments, each sensor electrode of the arrangement 800 included in a particular row is electrically connected so that a desired signal can be driven into each individual row during operation. However, other implementations may include individually driven sensor electrodes or different groups of sensor electrodes. For example, each group of four (4) sensor electrodes surrounded by a particular grid electrode may be electrically connected and driven together.

As shown, the sensor electrodes 120 included in rows 1-3 are driven with the sense signal 430 , the sensor electrodes 120 of rows 5 and 6 are driven with the relaxation signal 440 , and , the sensor electrode 120 included in the row 4 is driven by the protection signal 435 . In some embodiments, the sense signal 430 and the guard signal 435 are the same, but the sensor electrode 120 driven with the guard signal 435 is not included in the capacitive measurements. Each grid electrode is

Although driven with the guard signal 435 , in other embodiments, one or more grid electrodes may be driven with a different signal. For example, the grid electrodes included in rows 5 , 6 (surrounding the sensor electrode 120 driven with the relaxation signal 440 ) may also be driven with the relaxation signal 440 .

An adjacent first region 705 is defined by a first plurality of sensor electrodes 120 driven by a sensing signal 430 or a guard signal 435 . As shown, the adjacent first region 705 includes the sensor electrode 120 and the grid electrode included in rows 1-4.

The second region 720 is defined by a second plurality of sensor electrodes 120 driven with a relaxation signal 440 . As shown, the second region 720 includes the sensor electrodes 120 included in rows 5 and 6 . In some embodiments, the second region 720 may further include a grid electrode driven with the relaxation signal 440 .

The sensing area 710 is defined by a sensor electrode 120 driven with a sensing signal 430 . As shown, the sensing area 710 extends to include the sensor electrodes 120 in rows 1-3. A boundary region 715 is defined within the adjacent first region 705 and is disposed adjacent to the second region 720 . The sensor electrode 120 disposed within the boundary region 715 is generally configured to protect the sensing region 120 from the effect of a relaxation signal 440 driven onto the sensor electrode of the second region 120 . In some embodiments, the size of the boundary region 715 is the relative size of the sense region 710 and/or the second region 720 , and/or the relative size of the sense signal 430 and/or the relaxation signal 440 . It may be determined based on the amplitude. In some embodiments, if the grid electrodes (eg, grid electrodes 805-1A, 805-1B) are large enough, a separate boundary region 715 is needed to properly protect the sensor electrode of the sensing region 710 . You may not.

Thus, driving the sensor electrodes of the arrangement 800 in the manner shown means a first comprising sensor electrodes 120 in rows 1-3 corresponding to half of the first (vertical) sensing axis for a first time period. It may be suitable for obtaining capacitive measurements. Consistent with the discussion above, additional capacitive measurements may be obtained along the first sense axis and/or the second (horizontal) sense axis at different time periods.

9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example scan sequence while performing active reduction of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with embodiments described herein. The scan sequence may be performed in combination with other embodiments, such as using the arrangement 700 , 800 of the sensor electrodes shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 . In the scan sequence shown in diagram 900, along a first (vertical) sense axis between times 905-1 and 905-3 and a second (horizontal) between times 905-4 and 905-6. Sensing occurs along the sensing axis.

At time 905 - 1 , sensing region 710 includes the top of the first sensing axis. The sensing region 710 is separated from the second region 720 (ie, driven with a relaxation signal) by a boundary region 715 . At time 905 - 2 , capacitive measurements are obtained from two separate sensing regions 710 - 1 , 710 - 2 , with a second region 720 centered along the first sensing axis. In this case, the first boundary region 715-1 separates the second region 720 from the sensing region 710-1, and the second boundary region 715-2 separates the second region 720 from the sensing region. (710-2) is isolated from At time 905 - 3 , sensing region 710 includes a lowermost portion of the first sensing axis.

At time 905 - 4 , sensing region 710 includes the rightmost portion of the second sensing axis. The sensing area 710 is separated from the second area 720 by a boundary area 715 . At time 905-5, capacitive measurements are obtained from two separate sensing regions 710-1, 710-2, with a second region 720 centered along the second sensing axis. In this case, the first boundary region 715-1 separates the second region 720 from the sensing region 710-1, and the second boundary region 715-2 separates the second region 720 from the sensing region. (710-2) is isolated from At time 905 - 6 , sensing region 710 includes the leftmost portion of the second sensing axis. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example arrangement 1000 , 1050 having a relief region at least partially surrounding a sensing region in accordance with embodiments described herein. The scan sequence may be performed in combination with other embodiments, such as using the arrangement 700 , 800 of the sensor electrodes shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 .

In arrangement 1000 , sensing region 710 is partially surrounded by relaxation region(s). More specifically, the sensing region 710 is disposed between a first relaxation region (shown as a second region 720-1) and a second relaxation region (shown as a second region 720-2). In this case, the first boundary region 715 - 1 separates the second region 720 - 1 from the sensing region 710 , and the second boundary region 715 - 2 separates the second region 720 - 2 . separate from the sensing area 710 . In the arrangement 1050 , the sensing region 710 is completely surrounded by a relaxation region (ie, the second region 720 ). In this case, the boundary region 715 also surrounds the sensing region 710 .

In some embodiments, the sensing area 710 of the arrangement 1000 , 1050 may have a relatively static positioning. The arrangement 1000 , 1050 shows that while capacitive measurements may be obtained for the entire sensing region 710 within a single time period (eg, in one or more sensing axes), the relaxation region(s) is 710) can be beneficial in that the EM radiation generated by driving the sensor electrode can be mitigated. In some cases, such as arrangement 1000 , 1050 , the relaxation region(s) and boundary region(s) may extend along the longest dimension of the sensing region 710 . In some cases, such as in arrangement 1050 , the relief region(s) and/or boundary region(s) may have a greater thickness along the longest dimension of the sensing region 710 and It may have a smaller thickness along other dimensions.

Features described herein may be implemented in suitable alternative forms. In one non-limiting example, the relaxation signal may be driven for groups of software-defined 1D slider buttons and/or software-defined 2D buttons. For 2D buttons, given a sufficient distance between the 2D buttons, the processing system can drive the sense waveform to perform capacitive measurements corresponding to a set of 2D buttons, and drive the inverse waveform to (approximately equal area ) can measure different sets of 2D buttons simultaneously. In another non-limiting example, a system defining an inverse waveform of multiple touch sensing areas, of appropriate amplitude, may be used to achieve net cancellation over the sum of the sensing areas.

Accordingly, the embodiments and examples described herein are provided to best explain the embodiments in accordance with the present technology and its particular application, and to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and example only. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed.

In view of the foregoing, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the following claims.

Claims (20)

As an input device,
a first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first area, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a sensing area within the first area, and a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises the the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a boundary region within a first region;
a plurality of relaxation electrodes defining a second region adjacent the boundary region; and
A processing system comprising:
Inverted or phase shifted of the first modulated signal to mitigate electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first modulated signal driving the plurality of relaxation electrodes with a second modulated signal that is a copy and has an amplitude different from the amplitude of the first modulated signal; and
and in response to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with the first modulated signal, obtain capacitive measurements using the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes. The method of claim 1,
and the amplitude of the second modulated signal is selected to provide a desired mitigation of electromagnetic radiation. ◈Claim 3 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 3. The method of claim 2,
wherein the first area corresponds to a first area and the second area corresponds to a second area that is smaller than the first area. The method of claim 1,
the sensing area comprises a third portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes;
The sensor electrodes of the third part are configured as protective sensor electrodes. The method of claim 1,
wherein the plurality of relaxation electrodes comprises a second plurality of sensor electrodes. ◈Claim 6 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 6. The method of claim 5,
The first plurality of sensor electrodes are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,
the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a first row of the plurality of rows, and
and the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a second row of the plurality of rows. ◈Claim 7 was abandoned at the time of payment of the registration fee.◈ 7. The method of claim 6,
The sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are distinguished from the sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns. ◈Claim 8 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 7. The method of claim 6,
the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a first column of the plurality of columns, and
and the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a second column of the plurality of columns. ◈Claim 9 was abandoned at the time of payment of the registration fee.◈ 3. The method of claim 2,
wherein at least one of a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion or a second number of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of relaxation electrodes drives the first plurality of sensor electrodes; An input device selected to provide the desired relief. The method of claim 1,
wherein at least one of the capacitive measurements comprises an absolute capacitive sensing measurement. A processing system comprising:
a sensor circuit for operating the plurality of electrodes;
The sensor circuit is
driving a first plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a first modulating signal within a first period of time, wherein the first plurality of sensor electrodes define a first area, and a first portion defining a first sensing area within the first area, and a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first boundary area within the first area. drive;
with a second modulated signal that is an inverted or phase shifted copy of the first modulated signal and has an amplitude different from the amplitude of the first modulated signal while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period driving a plurality of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of relaxation electrodes have a second region adjacent the first boundary region for mitigating electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes. drive the plurality of relaxation electrodes, defining and
configured to obtain first capacitive measurements using the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period and in response to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with the first modulated signal , processing system. 12. The method of claim 11,
The sensor circuit also comprises:
within a second time period, driving a third plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a third modulated signal, wherein the third plurality of sensor electrodes define a third region different from the first region; a third portion of a third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second sensing region within the third region, and a fourth portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second boundary region within the third region; drive a third plurality of sensor electrodes;
with a fourth modulated signal that is an inverted or phase shifted copy of the third modulated signal and has an amplitude different from the amplitude of the third modulated signal while driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes within the second time period driving a fourth plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes being disposed in the second boundary region to mitigate electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes driving the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes defining a fourth adjacent region; and
and in the second period of time and in response to driving the three plurality of sensor electrodes, use the third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes to obtain second capacitive measurements. ◈Claim 13 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 13. The method of claim 12,
wherein the first sense area corresponds to a first sense axis and the second sense area corresponds to a second sense axis substantially orthogonal to the first sense axis. 12. The method of claim 11,
The plurality of electrodes are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,
the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a first row of the plurality of rows, and
and the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least a second row of the plurality of rows. ◈Claim 15 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 15. The method of claim 14,
and sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are distinct from sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns. 12. The method of claim 11,
The sensor circuit is further configured to select at least one of a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion, a second number of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of relaxation electrodes, or the amplitude of the second modulated signal. Consisting of, a processing system. A method of operating a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
driving, within a first time period, a first plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a first modulating signal, the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first area, the first plurality of sensor electrodes a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first sensing area within the first area and a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first boundary area within the first area. driving them;
with a second modulated signal that is an inverted or phase shifted copy of the first modulated signal and has an amplitude different from the amplitude of the first modulated signal while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period driving a plurality of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of relaxation electrodes comprises a second adjacent region of the first boundary for mitigating electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes. driving the plurality of relaxation electrodes defining a region; and
in response to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with the first modulated signal, using the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes to obtain first capacitive measurements; How to operate the electrodes of 18. The method of claim 17,
The method is
within a second period of time, driving a third plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a third modulating signal, the third plurality of sensor electrodes defining a third region different from the first region; a third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second sensing region within the third region, and a fourth portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second boundary region within the third region; driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes;
with a fourth modulated signal that is an inverted or phase shifted copy of the third modulated signal and has an amplitude different from the amplitude of the third modulated signal while driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes within the second time period driving a fourth plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes define a fourth region adjacent to the second boundary region, and driving the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes; driving the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes to provide a desired mitigation of electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes; and
in response to driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes, using the third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes to obtain second capacitive measurements Way. ◈Claim 19 was abandoned at the time of payment of the registration fee.◈ 19. The method of claim 18,
wherein the first sensing region corresponds to a first sensing axis and the second sensing region corresponds to a second sensing axis substantially orthogonal to the first sensing axis. ◈Claim 20 was abandoned when paying the registration fee.◈ 19. The method of claim 18,
selecting at least one of a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion, a second number of relaxation electrodes of the plurality of relaxation electrodes, or the amplitude of the second modulated signal to select the first plurality of sensors and providing the desired mitigation of electromagnetic radiation resulting from driving the electrodes.

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